ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that terrorism, seen as a form of political violence, grounded in its own reasons yet producing destructive results to all concerned, needs to be transformed into more productive/creative conflicts with Muslims' nonviolent alternatives. It argues that the radical transformation is possible precisely because of the similarities, not differences, between terrorism used by some Muslims and "principled nonviolence". The chapter presents terrorism as a rational phenomenon. It discusses the ways in which it was both condemned and justified by those most directly involved with the act in order to suggest that transforming terrorism with Muslim nonviolent action is not merely wishful thinking. Perhaps a question that does not ask how to end terrorism, but instead how to transform it, will provide a more promising alternative. More importantly, the act of terror becomes possible when the victim has been dehumanized and is no longer recognized as a human being.
